GALACTIC REFLECTIONS By Cameron Cooper
STORIES OF TIME, WAR, AND TRANSFORMATION
Science Fiction Short Stories Collection
More books by Cameron Cooper
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All Cameron’s standalone fiction (so far) in one collection
Galactic Reflections: Stories of Time, War, and Transformation is a captivating collection of short stories by Cameron Cooper, a master of speculative fiction. This anthology brings together a diverse array of tales that explore the human condition across time and space. From the solar-punk landscapes of “Winds of Change” to the cosmic origins in “Fetch,” each story offers a unique glimpse into different futures and alternate realities. In “A Room of Her Own,” journey aboard a generation ship where the boundaries of personal freedom and societal expectation blur, while “Resilience” delves into the haunting consequences of war and regeneration.
Whether it’s the noirish intrigue of “And We Danced All Night,” the whimsical twist in “He Really Meant It,” or the first-person narration of “Insanity is Infectious” from the Iron Hammer series, Cooper’s stories are united by their rich world-building and thought-provoking themes. Galactic Reflections invites readers to explore the delicate balance between hope and despair, love and loss, and the enduring human spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges. This collection is a must-read for fans of science fiction and anyone who enjoys stories that challenge the imagination and inspire reflection.
Includes:
Winds of Change
Fetch
An Average Night on Androkles
A Place for Everyone
Flying Blind
A Room of Her Own
He Really Meant It
But Now I See
And We Danced All Night
The Body in the Zero Gee Brothel
Insanity is Infectious
Resilience
Also (only from Stories Rule Press):
Cam’s Standalone Fiction Special Bundle
Cameron Cooper’s Super-Bundle
Science Fiction Short Stories.
Note: These stories were written by a human, without the use of LLM artificial intelligence.
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Reviews
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I loved this collection of short stories. Some are very thought provoking, while others feature characters I already knew. Great! There is a bit of dystopian future stuff, along with murder mysteries, living on a spaceship, and generally all great stories. Perfect for the SciFi geeky person I am. Plenty to read, think about, and reread. I highly recommend you read this book.
SciFi with a human interest slant and brilliant insights of our current world to tease the brain.
Short and impactful, there's plenty of variety in the settings and action of each story. They pack lots of punch by drawing me into the action quickly and keeping me intrigued for the whole of it.
Characters are complex and some of the stories are also linked to several series by Cameron Cooper which I also highly recommend: Imperial Hammer & Iron Hammer and Ptolemy Lane.
* Winds of Change:
Uniquely talented characters brought life to the sun-baked sandy environment that forms the setting for this novel.
I loved the allusions to the "Hedonistic Era" and the implications of that history in a world where most live and thrive in forests and farms underground.
* Fetch:
A cheeky and fun but mind-blowing origin-of-the-universe story.
* An Average Night on Andronkles:
A link story about the Imperial Hammer series' Danny Andela and how she first met her Parawolf Varg (a companion wolf).
* A Place For Everyone:
A brilliant insight into the power of self imagine and confidence, and how they can impact a human's ability to achieve success.
* Flying Blind:
Tension and excitement abound as a family run free-ship is boarded by hostile forces.
* A Room Of Her Own
A picnic and a riot have surprising consequences for a couple on a generational ship.
* He Really Meant It
A teasing glimpse into the consequences of daring the universe.
* But Now I See
Exciting and gripping action on the same family ship as Flying Blind in an edge-of-the-seat conflict.
* And We Danced All Night:
Set in a dystopian environment featuring a retirement party with a twist. This is a multi layered and thought provoking story that invites reading again.
* The Body In The Zero Gee Brothel:
An other worldly 'who done it' mystery which introduces Ptolemy Jovan Lane...the main character of a fabulous series I have read all the books of. Doc and Jovan's secretary are also intriguing characters.
* Insanity Is Infectious:
A character-building story that links to the Iron Hammer series. When a space ship's functionality conjures a dead man the small crew are baffled.
* Resilience:
A regenerated hive mind pilot notices something different after his nine hundred and fifty seventh death in battle that changes his future.
What a fantastic SciFi bundle of stories!
Galactic Reflections: Stories of Time, War, and Transformation, by Cameron Cooper, is an eclectic assortment of short stories, some of which stand alone, and some as pieces of the other series by the author. I love the Iron Hammer series, so anything in that universe is exciting to read. "The Body in the Zero Gee Brothel", the first story in the Ptolemy Lane series is still one of my favorites, and, if you haven’t already read the series, do so. Cooper has a dynamic style that captures the reader and injects them straight into the bloodstream of whatever universe has been created. An entertaining read.
***** Winds of Change
Amazing World building!!
A gritty world where each person provides a service to their community. Pallas’ ability is to absorb and process dataset and determine trends. Specializing in social and anthropological movements.
A seemingly punishable act, is actually a saving grace. Fascinating.
***** Fetch
Super quick - yet thought provoking.
***** An Average Night on Androkles
Delightful piece of Early Danny!!
If you’ve read my reviews of any of this fabulous series you know I love Varg – the parawolf. This is Varg’s official introduction. Danny is going for a low-key night out, perhaps a date. But there are kidnappings, threats on life and we get to meet Varg – I loved every word!!
***** A Place for Everyone
Entertaining Sci-Fi Intrigue!!
Terrific world-building as we learn aspects of this future existence. Yordan Vestri is about to have an interview. As the creator of Vestri Corporation, now celebrating its twentieth year, people are interested in its founder.
The interviewer Fenne Driessen has some interesting questions – all on video. Turns out Fenne has a different primary job, a revealing question, and an offer.
Cameron will keep the reader engaged and throw in an aspect that you never would expect. Perfect for Sci-fi.
***** Flying Blind
Pure Sci-fi Brilliance!!!!
Short and sweet, we get to witness a tension-filled altercation between a family freeship and the powerful Eriumans. Mostly a battle of wits, we quickly learn how each team operates, and one is left owing the other a favor.
Totally engrossing!!!!
***** A Room of Her Own
Love a Generation Ship Story!!
A quick glimpse into the struggles of living on such a ship. You feel each bit of emotion, and understand the tough decisions that must be made to save lives. A special suit which has an “undocumented feature”. Saves Saulia’s life, but leaves her off balance.
Politics, secret amenities, and pure love.
***** He Really Meant It
A domestic dispute with sci-fi repercussions. Again, a seemingly ordinary interaction turns into an astrophysics lesson. Entertaining.
***** But Now I See
A lethal cat and mouse game, and the paying of debts. All out in space of course.
Family, alliances, and consequences for mistakes.
***** And We Danced All Night
Short, Future Earth Story!!
A man who ‘knows’ what is to come for his friends. A retirement party, where retirement seems to have a special meaning. Intriguing dystopian vignette.
***** The Body in the Zero Gee Brothel
Expect the Unexpected!!This author never fails to surprise and delight. Yes, there is a murder to be solved. But even more importantly a new world is slowly brought to life to the reader. Throw your preconceived notions out prior to reading. Original and entertaining.
***** Insanity is Infectious
Love Anything to do with Iron Hammer!!
Shipminds, wars, and dead emperors. A little down time turns “insane”. Love the play on words, and vignette from this favorite series.
***** Resilience
Fighting an Eternal War!!
A centuries-long war. People suffer multiple deaths and regenerations. It still hurts. Regenerating is iffy at times, each regen is more difficult than the last. You must pass a regen check, or it’s game over. Each soldier pays for equipment and upgrades to continue the struggle.
Resilience is a key factor in being able to continue. Another one that will make you think.
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Excerpt
EXCERPT FROM WINDS OF CHANGE
COPYRIGHT © CAMERON COOPER 2024
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
On the third day after the Winterwillow Collective changed routes, they reached what should have been the Aberuthen Warren. The valley which greeted them was not as it should be, which didn’t reassure Saima.
She trusted Pallas. Of course she did. He was her husband. Only he had looked so strained lately, bent over his books and data. And he had argued so strongly with Director Brid, until it seemed that Pallas had forced the Director to declare the Collective would visit Aberuthen, instead of Director Brid coming to his own decision. Then Pallas had insisted upon walking behind Brid as the Collective travelled north-west.
Saima and Markas, her other husband, had walked with Pallas at the head of the file. They could scarce do anything else. They’d given their wagon to one of the relief drivers.
Now the slow-moving caravan of creaking salvage carts, enclosed living wagons and mongrel vehicles came to a halt behind Director Venkat Brid as he pushed back his hood, unhooked his face veil and stared out across the shallow valley they’d reached. Everyone gathered behind him and spread out across the low crest to study their destination.
Saima pulled aside her own veil and sniffed the air. It was close to dawn and the omnipresent ivory dust was minimal. She lowered the veil, but left her hood in place.
Under the thick, permanent cloud cover, there was no moonlight to illuminate the valley. Saima only knew what moonlight was because she had grown up on a platform. Yet the bone-white, bare, heat-baked and sterile earth told its own story, for it lay across the valley like a winding sheet, pale in the night and bereft of details.
“Where is the Warren?” Director Brid demanded. “The lobby should be right there.”
Saima rested her hand against Pallas’ back as he tensed. She soothed silently.
“What did their lobby look like, Director?” Markas asked. He spoke with the smooth, placating tones he used when examining witnesses and pronouncing judgements.
“It’s been twenty years. More!” Brid sounded disgusted. “I can’t remember. It was wider than it was tall. Corrugated steel and girders. Sturdy. It’s not there, now.” He held out his hand. An assistants thrust the battered, scratch and cherished binoculars into it.
Brid studied the valley in detail. “This is damned peculiar.” He lowered the glasses. “The entrance is there, but nothing protects it.” He brooded, weighing the safety and wellbeing of the Collective. He turned, his boot heel under the djellaba digging a round hole in the white dirt. “Pallas, did you know something had happened to the warren?”
Saima stroked Pallas’ spine, where the Director couldn’t see it, reminding Pallas that his skills were valuable, that he must trust himself and remain firm.
Pallas shook his head. “The data doesn’t give details, Director. The patterns merely suggested we should head in this direction.”
Pallas was an unregistered asset. He served formally as Markas’ secretary and archivist, for Markas was the registered asset in the Collective. But Pallas’ real talent was an ability to absorb and process huge amounts of data. He could see patterns in datasets, and across them, too. Unlike assets who could also memorize vast seas of information and spot trends, Pallas specialized in social and anthropological movements. He was very good at what he did, even though it often meant he was preoccupied with feeding his mind with data, a furrow between his fine brows. He consumed information, his narrow chin down by his chest, working to retain it. Sometimes Saima found it hard to draw him back to the real world, to share a meal with her and Markas.
“We’ll go down there,” Venkat Brid decided. “Find out what happened and lend a hand if they need it. Collectors, spread out. Let’s do a sweep across the valley. We might yet profit from this detour.”
He handed the glasses back, replaced his veil and dug his hiking pole into the ground. The Collective shifted into slow forward motion.
Saima swayed so she could see Pallas’ face. He was a very tall man for a Collective-born, which meant their eyes were level. Over the top of his veil, his looked silver in the last of the dry, dark night. He picked up her hand. “I’m fine,” he assured her. He tugged her into following Venkat Brid down the hill toward the remains of the warren they had come to trade with.
